The Door Jam is a place to squeeze in articles about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their work, adaptations of their fantasy worlds, news from other franchises, and interesting articles. Unless otherwise stated, I’m not endorsing (or criticizing) any of these but merely sharing them with you.
In one sense, The Screwtape Letters have never gone out of style, but the book seems to be experiencing a resurgence led by a potentially unusual audience—20-something women.
The idea of correspondence between demons first came to Lewis as he was bored during a sermon. He first wrote the letters as weekly newspaper serials in 1941 before The Screwtape Letters was published as a book in 1942. Lewis dedicated it to J.R.R. Tolkien, writing “In token payment of a great debt” in the copy he gave to Tolkien. Unfortunately, this didn’t help their friendship as Tolkien didn’t appreciate the book.
Yet, the book established Lewis as an internationally famous author. Screwtape landed him a cover story in TIME magazine in the United States. The cover illustration features a demon perched on his shoulder.
Since its publication, the book has enjoyed continued success and popularity. Bono, the lead singer of U2, modeled a stage character in their tour after the demons from the book. Bono also had his animated self read Screwtape during the 1995 music video for “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me.”1
Today, as much of the attention turns to Narnia with the upcoming Netflix adaptation, many are commending The Screwtape Letters, even if they don’t believe in the supernatural.
Recently, in the Boston Globe, Liza Libes shares how the book changed her perspective on religion. She grew up in a secular home with progressive schooling and encountered her first devout Catholic in her early 20s. He recommended she read Screwtape. Libes didn’t become Christian or even religious after finishing the book, but she saw a perspective on life that she respected.
In an interview in The New York Times, Kayla Scanlon, described The Screwtape Letters as one of her “favorite books in the whole world.” Scanlon is a young, up-and-coming modern writer, but she found immense wisdom in the more than 80-year-old demonic epistles. When asked to recommend three books, two of her recommendations were from Lewis—Screwtape and A Grief Observed.
With these two young women using high-profile opportunities in leading newspapers to recommend The Screwtape Letters and the book’s own upcoming movie adaptation, it seems like we may be in a Screwtape season. If those letters were real, I’d imagine the demons would not be thrilled to see this increased attention to their activities.
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.
The Screwtape Letters
Tumnus’ bookshelf
More books by or about Lewis or Tolkien
We talk a lot about Lewis as a fiction writer and a non-fiction author, but not as much about Lewis as a poet. Poetry was an early love. He published his first poem while in school. Before he became a Christian, he published Spirits in Bondage as a 20-year-old. Seven years later, as an Oxford fellow, he published Dymer. Lewis continued his poetry as a Christian.
He often published poetry under pseudonyms, including Clive Hamilton (his first name and mother’s maiden name) and Nat Whilk (Anglo-saxon for “I know not whom”) or just N.W.2
Poems (ebook) by C.S. Lewis — $0.99 (-90%), paperback ($11.99, -20%)
Other Inkling books on sale:
English Literature in the Sixteenth Century (Excluding Drama) (ebook) by C.S. Lewis — $1.99 (-87%) hardcover ($13.30, -67%)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (paperback) by C.S. Lewis — $5.59 (-49%)
The Horse and His Boy (paperback) by C.S. Lewis — $6.39 (-42%)
The Silmarillion: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien (hardcover) — $39.78 (-47%)
The Lord of the Rings: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien (hardcover) — $30.07 (-67%)
The Hobbit (paperback) by J.R.R. Tolkien — $7.13 (-62%)
Behind the Wardrobe
Sneak peek at the bonus articles
Below, paid subscribers can read the latest on the Narnia movie and potential problems with the IMAX deal, the film’s cinematographer using AI, reflections on Lewis during loss, a visit to Lewis’ home and other relevant areas, a potential Narnia Lego set, updates on Tolkien adaptions new and old, a first look at the new Harry Potter on set, Nintendo casts live-action Zelda and Link, new casts joining a biblical epic, Marvel’s Kevin Feige opens up about the MCU, and more.
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